Bayno signs second Texas JC standout

With all the talk about UNLV's need to replace Shawn Marion's scoring and get some perimeter shooting help, was another important need -- a tough guy who could rebound and defend while not needing the ball to be effective -- being ignored?

Apparently not.

The Rebels Tuesday received Sylvester Dotson's signed letter of intent, and the 6-foot-7 1/2, 230-pound power forward from Kilgore (Texas) College is expected to fill that role nicely.

Dotson, a teammate of UNLV signee Trevor Diggs with the Rangers, becomes the third player to sign with the Rebels for the 1999 recruiting class. And those numbers may increase as Lou Kelly's letter supposedly was finally sent Tuesday and should arrive in Las Vegas today.

Kelly, a 6-5 wing forward from San Bernardino Valley College, is one of the keys to a successful recruiting class. He is expected to pick up a lot of the scoring slack with Marion having departed for the NBA.

Meanwhile, Verbum Dei guard Marlon Parmer is said to be leaning toward UNLV, though he was supposed to have visited New Mexico Tuesday. Parmer enjoyed his visit to Las Vegas last weekend and would join prep teammate Dalron Johnson, who signed back in November, if he opts to commit to Bayno and UNLV.

Dotson, a native of Detroit who initially signed with Michigan State, averaged 12 points and eight rebounds for Kilgore this season. Those who have seen him play say he has a lot of former Rebel Warren Rosegreen's toughness, and that he would have a good chance at starting at the power forward spot vacated by senior Kevin Simmons.

Dotson never did attend Michigan State, as he failed to fully qualify academically. The Big Ten does not accept Prop 48 players, so Dotson enrolled at Central Michigan. However, he wasn't happy with the situation there and left after a year to attend Kilgore.

Iowa and Xavier also were in the chase to land Dotson. But UNLV, with its opening at power forward and the fact Dotson's teammate Diggs already was in the fold, wound up getting him. He'll have two years of eligibility.

Bayno confirmed that Dotson's letter had arrived but wanted to withhold comment about the program's latest signee until after the signing period ends May 15, when he'll talk in detail about the entire 1999 recruiting class.

And while the class is expanding, it is far from through.

Kenny Dye, a 6-3 shooting guard from Connors (Okla.) State, is visiting this weekend along with Lamont Roland, a 6-4 swing forward from Barton County (Kan.) Community College, who was the Mid-American Conference's Freshman of the Year while at Ball State before leaving after last season. He averaged 24.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 steals for Barton County, which went 35-3.

By the time the signing period ends, there could be as many as seven new faces for UNLV fans to get acquainted with.

"Things are going good," Bayno said. "We're almost there."

Hoop du Jour

The NCAA's enforcement staff has yet to make its scheduled appearance and associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie said he is waiting to hear from it. "I believe it's more a matter of requesting and picking up some information," he said. "They haven't asked us to schedule anyone for formal interviews." ... UNLV is talking to Loyola Marymount about a possible late January date to fill out the final spot in its 1999-2000 schedule. Koloskie said he hoped to hear something about a Rebels-Lions matchup at the Thomas & Mack Center before the end of the week. ... At the Mountain West Conference meetings in San Diego, all is quiet. Commissioner Craig Thompson said Tuesday no major issues, such as selecting a site for the conference's postseason basketball tournament, a regionalized television package or a bowl game alignment will come out of these meetings, whic h conclude Thursday. "It's been pretty boring, actually," Thompson said. "The bids for the tournament are due May 4 and we probably won't make a decision u ntil later in the month."

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